Ignition system for internal-combustion engines



April 21, 1925'. v 1,534,368

H. E. FELLOWS IGNITION .SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Fi y 10, 1923 4 Sheets-11961, 1

Howard 15/?9650506,

April 21, 1925. 1,534,368

H. E FELLOWS IGNITION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Ju y 10, 192.5 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Howard E @Zzowo,

-April 21; 1925.

H. E. FELLOWS IGNITION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 4 Sheets-Sheeb 5 Filed y 10, 1925 /NVENTOR8 f/ozdard F'zloam, /5,94%

H. E. FELLOWS IGNITION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES April 21, 1925.

File y 10, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 S 7R m m m 9 6 w 9 0 %6 W m y MW a a 7 w i W W? 5 l A u. 3 WW lil y/a w r i aw 7 m flowamag 7 16% iatented Apr. 21, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

p v UNITED STATES I HOWARD E. FELLOWS, 0F HAMMEBSMITH, LONDON, ENGLAND.

IGNITION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed July 10,

exact description. of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved and novel system of ignition for internal combustion engines. The ignition systems at present in use employing sparking plugs which derive current from either a magneto or coil and accumulator systems are as is well known practically standardized in principle, and apart from the crude hot point ignition. which was proposed in the pioneer stage of internal combustion engines and which in a modified form is now used for stationary heavy oil engines, for instance such as the Diesel crude oil engines, no serious attempt has been made to substitute the sparking plug ignition with a more reliable system which during the running of the engine does not rely upon the source of electric current to insure working.

tion systems have had for their object to improve the electrical systems which have been gine, will be practically impossible under.

ordinary treatment to get out of order, will require no mechan cal transmission from the engine, as in the case of a magneto. and which will be of a simple and extremely durable character.

Broadly according to the present invention ignition is efiected by the location of means susceptible to heatin such manner as to be accessible bythe combustible mixture delivered into the combustion chamber Chiefly,

experiments and inventions relating to igni- 1923. Serial No. 650,662.

or chambers of an internal combustion engine, such means deriving sufficient heat from theexplosion of the combustible mixture to constitute a constant ignition point during the running of the engine, the mo ment of explosion being predeterminable by the adjustment of the volume of space withiuwhich the combustible mixture is compressed before ignition, whereby the moment at which the requisite compression of the combustible mixture for explosion may be advanced or retarded.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention means are provided whereby the firing of the engine may be selected to occur at predetermined moments so that ignition may be advanced or retarded. This may be effected by moving the actual firing point towards or away from the combustion chamber, or by leading the combustible mixture into variable accommodating means, so that the requisite pressure for ignition can be delayed or advanced according to the location of the ignition point or the amount of variable accommodating means employed; it being appreciated that a certain amount of pressure on the combustible mixture is essential before ignition will occur.

The initial explosion of each combustion chamber of the engine may be effected by an ordinary sparking plug; low tension current supplied to a resistance element so that a glow. is generated, or current may be supplied directly to the point of ignition itself which will be of such a nature as to offer sufficient resistance to generate the requisite heat. Immediately subsequent to each such initial explosion the current may be, and preferably is, entirely cut on", the heat acquired by each ignition point from the explosion being suflicient to ensure a constant point of ignition.

The ignition element 1 is preferably accommodated in a chamber which is detach able from the cylinder of an engine for instance by threading into the ordinary sparking plug or other threaded hole, whereby in existing engines the sparking plugs maybe readily substituted.

Alternatively however the chamber may be cast integrally with its cylinder.

Figs. 1 and 2. are perspective and bi-sectional elerational views respectively of a device adapted to be attached to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine.

Figs. 3 and i are similar views of a modification.

Fig. 5 is a bi-sectional elevational View of a further modiii *ation.

F (S is an end View partly broken away of the device shown in Fig. 5 but with an end cap removed.

Fig. 7 is a bi-sectional elerational ViOW of a further modification.

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7 with an end cap removed.

Fig. 9 is a. perspective View of a device adapted to operate as a common controlling member to a plurality of cylinders of an engine, such view showing parts detached for clcarness.

Fig. is a iii-sectional elerational \lGW of the device illustrated in Fig. 9 and having the parts assembled.

Fig. ll is a diagrammatic plan YiOW illustrating the application of the modification illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 and.

Fit. is a bi-s ctional elevational View of a suitable lorm oi" igrniter for use with the device shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings a device is shown one of each of which is intended to ba applied to each cylinder o i an internal con'iluistion engine. The point of ignition is shown as constituted by a small coil 1 of metal or alloy of good wearinn' and resistance properties, one very suitable n'iateriai brine that known in the trade as Bright Ray Elichrcme. This coil 1 is carried the base of a. metal member 2 which is threaded. into a cylindrical central member rotatabl acconnno ilated at its base in an outer cup ec 1! 6 baring an internal diameter which accommoda'es as a close lit the enlarged base 5" of the rotatable member 5. a slo iiingor shallow truncated conical portion 5 constituting the junction of the parts F and The cupped base 6 is :lormed with a central downwzrdly de pending threaded portion 7 adapted to be threaded into the ordinal-5 sparking plug hole of a cylinder. packing rings or Wt shers 8 being provided to ensure gas tin ht lit.

The conical portion 5" of the central member 5 seats upon a corrisponilingjly shaped seating: 9 formed on the lower edge of a collar 10 threaded into the base 6, a close engagement of such seating being eflected bf a coiled spring 11 interposed between an annular ledge 12 termed on the outside oi the collar 10. and an annular ring 13 threaded on to the upper end 01'' the central member 5 and secured by a set screw 13.

During the running of the engine the coil 1 receives suliicient heat from th explosions of the combustible mixture to constitute a constant ignition point, the gases reaching the coil 1 through a narrow central passage i i in the base (3 and a narrow assaggc 15 in the rotatable central member a certain amount of pressure by the piston upon the gas being required to force the gas through such pasiae'es i l and 15 so as to be some what compressed about the c il 1 lclore an .Kplosion takes place, this pressure o t course taking place during the compression stage of the cycle or the engine. Should it be reouired to retard the firing ot the engine the moment at ich the requisite prm of explosion tale place will be delayed. and this is effected by leading the gas into other channels from the passages l-land 15. This is carried out by providing in the central rotatable member a plurality of chambers 16, which hare small inlet holes l6 but which are otherwise scaled. These holes 16" lead in trom the conical portion 5" and are covered by a .Q roo're or channel 9 cut into the seating 9 of the collar ill. In addition to the holes 16 hole 16 'n'orided which passes straight through he member brineinn; the interior I? .ol such member 5 into communication with the channel 5). It will be apparent, from the foregoing that any gas forced into the interior of the rotatable member 5 will now pass through the hole 16'' into the channel 9 and can be led into a selected number 01 chambers 16. the selec- I rotating the member 5. To 03' able zu'ljustments to be effected the ring; l3 may carry a pointer l-l". and the collar 10 be provided with suitable indications.

For the initial explosion in each cylinder the coil 1 is connected to a so tree or current, one suitable urethral o't ctmnection being: that illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the ends of the coil are connected in series to a pair of tcrurinals or electrodes ii the upper ends ol' which are connected in any suitable 1 runner to the source of current. 'lhese eleltrodcs l? in the prel erred embodiment each comprises a metal post tapered outwardly at the lower end am. split as at l8 "tor a short distance to receive one end ot tl e coil l.

Threaded upon the upper nu. the electrode is anut 19 which when ti cued will result in wede ing' the lower end or the electrode into the body 2. Each electrode is surrounded by insulation 3 and ria be proi'ided with a terminal nut instead oi leading; the combustible mixture into chambers for rar 'img; the time 01" explosion as described with reference to l igs. l. and 2. the ciil 1 may be adjus lllll explosion is required may be advanced or retarded. @116 method of carrying this into eilfect is illustrated by Figs. 3 and l in which the coil 1 is carried by a small cylinder 20 axially movable within a chamber 21 provided within body adapted to be threaded into a cylinder head. The base of the small, cylinder 20 is flanged as at 23 to provide a close sliding lit against the walls of: the chamber 21, and rotation of the cylinder 521 is prevented by one or more feathers or keys 24: engaging corresponding grooves in the flanged portion Tl'iecylinder 20 is moved axially in the chamber 211 by the rotation of a column hollowed as at 26 for the accommodation of the cylinder 20, such hollowed portion being termed with a quick. pitch thread 26 which receives a correspondingly threaded portion 20 formed on the outer surface of the cylinder 20 from which it will be apparent that rotation of. the column will result in axial movement of the cylinder 20 with resultant variation ot the space beneath the flanged. portion 23 for the reception of the.

combustible mixture.

The body 22 is axially apertured at -22 to provide a passage for the combustible mixture from the engine cylinder into the cluin'iber Q'LJand it maybe cast integrally with the cylinder or threaded as at 22" for threading into the cylinder. such threaded portion being; of any suitable (lllllQllSlOtA. The upper portion of the body 2 threaded at 22 to receive a sleeve 27 which consl'itut the support tli'or tlxtl'ltlllllllfllfl column l .thc lower portion ot such sleeve being coned on its inner surface as at 2? to provide an abutment for a. correspondingly coned portion. 25* torn'ied on the column 25, close engagement of such coned parts being assured by means ot a coiled sprinnQll interposed between a collar 25 carried by the column and a fixed rim 99 provided on the outer face ot a jacket ll) surrounding; the sleeve 27 to provide a water jacltettor COOllIlPf', the space 30 for the reception oi? water being; closed at the top by a collar or annular Tlll 27" secured on the upper end otthe sleeve 27. Nipples.

31' may be provided for the circulation ot the water, such nipplesreceiving pipes leading to a convenient part ot the engine conliiinintz' cooling water.

It desired, tor the initial explosion, the coil 1. may be connected to a suitable sonrce ct current. but preferably in this case the coil 1. glows solely as a result of the explosion of the combustible mixture, the initial ignition being effected by a separate coil 1 carried by a body 1 threaded into the upper end of the column 25, a passage being provided in the column 25'tor the passage of the combustiblei mixture from the engine combustion. chamber, the small disc 34L is held.

by means of screws 36 or other suitable means, such column being}; flanged as at. 3? to provide a face against which the The coil '1 is accommodated in a small bay 3% out in the periphery of the disc 34;. and it isconnected in se by leads to a pair of terminal posts or clect-rooes ilfil pass" .1 through the column and provided with terminal. nuts 40 at their outer ends whereby they may be con net-ted to a source of current. (his or both ot the opposing tacos ot the disc 34-. and the base of the column 35 arerecessed as at to provire accommodation for the base heads of the electrodes 39 and the leads The flang d portion 3'? ot the column has a close lit in. a housing: 41 which is foriincd with a sleeve 4-2 for the support oi cable column 35, a coiled spring by the column 83 and the housing 4.1 to en: o a cl i {it (it the flanged portion 37 within the ions in. The disc fill is oil a slightly smaller diameter than the thinned portion 37 so that an annular passages-3 oridcd between the inner taco ot the tl and the peripl'iery of the disc such pasF connnunicating with an inaperture 46. such inlet aperture being): :n'ied in the wall of the housing" ll. or l portion 4-? threaded into said housn cost. inte 'rally therewith and adapted to be threaded into the engine cylinder in- ":ead oi the usual sparking); plug.

The housing; ll is closed by a threaded cap 41 it will be apparent that cases compressed in the coinbrstion chamber ot the engine will. pass thr eh the aperture to into the annular passe e and so reach the coil 1 with consequent ie nitioin variation in the timing of ignition being eflected by rotation l the disc to more the coil 1 away fro e or towards the inlet aperture 4-6. In this 'arrangement the body otthe device is shown passage. The coil 1 is carried by a body 47 and is connected in series to a pair of terminals or electrodes adapted to be connected to a source of electric current, in a manner similar: to that represented in Fig. 2. The body 47 is threaded into an enlarged head 48 of a sleeve 49, such enlarged head accommodating as a close fit a valve 50 constituting one end of a column 51, rotatable within the sleeve 49, the valve 50 being securely held in its seating in the head 48 by the action of a coiled spring 32 interposed between a collar threadet on to the column 51. The chamber in the head 48 within which the valve 50 is ac commodated is closed by a cap 54 threaded therein.

Threaded into or cast integrally with the head 48 is a plug portion 55 adapted to be threaded into the engine cylinder, and an inlet passage 56 through said plug portion establishes con'nnunication between the interior of the head 48 and the combustion chamber of the engine, the interior of the head 4-8 being provided in its wall with a pair of diagonally opposite channels 57 extending partially around its inner circumterence. Connecting these two channels 57 is a passage 58 extending diametrically through the valve 50. One of the channels 57 leads opposite the inlet passage 56, and the other channel leads into a chamber 59 within which is located the coil 1, whereby it will be apparent that combustible mixture passes to the ignition point via the inlet 56 one of the channels 57 through the pa sage 58 in the valve 50 and finally through the remaining channel 57 to the ignition point. To advance or retard the moment of ignition the valve 50 is rotated by means of the column 51 thereby varying the. ellective length of the passage for the flow of combustible mixture. If desired the valve 50 may be provided with a pair of radial extensions which fit into the channels 57 to provide battles to ensure the gas taking the shortest path to the ignition point. However itis preferred to dispense with these battles so that the passage 58 may be moved out of alignment with the channels 57 to entirely cut off the coil 1 from communication with the combustion chamber of the engine.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that when any of the modifications described are employed with a multi-cylinder engine they will be connected by a suitable connecting rod or other convenient means for movement in unison all being adjusted to produce the same efl ect upon each combustion or cylinder unit, i. e. the moment of explosion ineach cylinder will take place at a common However if de position of each piston. sired instead of employing an advancing ,spondingly and retarding device for each cylinder, a device common to the whole of the cylinders may be employed, and one such embodiment is illustrated by Figs. 9, 10 and 11. a suitable ignition member for use in conjunction with this modification being illustrated in vertical section by Fig. 12.

This further embodiment is based upon the principle of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but a device operating in a similar manner could quite easily be based upon the principle of operation of the Figs. 3 and 4-,

r 5 and 6 and be within the scope of this invention. 7

Dealing first with Fig. 12 the ignition member is constituted by a metal plug body 60 which may be cylindrical or polygonal, and is provided with a threaded base (31 adapted to be threaded into the ordinary sparking plug hole in a cylinder. A central aperture (32 is provided to establish communication between the combustion chamber and the ignition coil 1, located in a chamber 63. The ignition coil 1 is carried by a small metal cylinder (34 which rests upon a ledge constituting the junction of the chamber accommodating it and the chamber (33, such metal cylinder being bored axially as at to provide a passage for the combustible nurture to an initia ignition coil. 66 carried by a hollow body (37 threaded into the upper end of the plug body (30. such coil 66 being connected to a source oi current which when the circuit is closed will produce the necessary glow in the coil (56 for the initial explosion, the circuit being broken after the initial explosion and the heat acquired from the explosion by the coil 1 being relied upon to provide the ignition point for subsequent explosions. In. cases where two such ignition coils are used the initial explosion coil, i. e. the one connected to a source of current is preferably so lo cated as not to be materially atlected by the heat of the explosions.

Communicating with the hollow interior of the small metal cylinder 64- is a lateral bypassage 68 to which is adapted to be connected one end of a metal tube 69. the other end of such tube being connected to the metal. body 70 of a controlling device 71 adapted to receive a similar tube 69 from each metal body 60 as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 11 which shows the device as applied to a tour cylinder engine. The method of connection of the ends of the tubes can be as illustrated at 72 in Fig. 10 showing an ordinary gas nipple union. Each tube 69 communicates with an inlet aperture 7 3 Iored in the body 70, such aperture leading into a shallow truncated conical chamber 74 which accommodates a cone shaped valve 75 provided around its periphery with channels 76 and held tightly on its seating by the action of a coiled spring 7'? disposed about a spindle Ti" locked to said valve, and interposed between a collar or sleeve i8 threaded and locked on such spindle and the base of a chamber 79 formed axially in the body 70. i

The peripheral channels 76 are adapted to establish commimication between each in let aperture 73 and a plurality of apertures 80 extending radially to the outer suriiace of the cylindrical body 70, and connected by means of tubes 81 to chaml'iers 82 in the upper part of the body 70, such chambers being sealed by short studs 83.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that each combustion chamber of the engine may be broitight into communication with one or more chambers 83 (four for each com bastion chamber are shown in the drawings) by rotation of the valve 75 (by means of the collar 78) thereby enabling the moment at which the requisite pressure of the combustible mixture for explosion by the action of the heated coil 1 to be varied, as obviously the greater number of chambers 82 which are brought into communication with each combustion chamber the longer will the moment of explosion be delayed.

The apertures 80 and 73 and the channels 76 are so located in sets that the channels 76 each cover a corresponding number of apertures simultaneously thereby ensuring synchronous timing of the successive explosions.

The base oil? the body is closed by a cap 84; threaded thereon, such cap if desired having a drain hole plug 85, should it be desired to pour a cleansing fluid into the de viceat any time.

The body 70 need not be a solid piece of metal as illustrated but may quite easily constitute a skeleton framework built up or cast, so as to avoid excessive weight and expense, and in practice it is preferred to adopt this practice.

To enable positions of the valve to be selected the collar may be provided with a pointer 86, the body 70 having indications thereon, each representing an aperture and one for an entirely out out position for fully advanced ignition.

In one modification (Figs. 3 and 4:) a water jacket is shown, it will bev apparent that such a provision can easily be applied to the other modifications, further it will be apparent that in all cases the means accommodating the ignition point may in the construction of engines be cast integrally with the cylinders. Instead of a Water jacket air cooling ribs may be equally easily providedf The modifications disclosed only illustrated by way of example some methods of carrying my invention into ellect it being apparent that a great, number of modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Although I have described my invention as applmdto an ordinary type of internal 1 combustion engine, it is obvious that it may be applied to any other type of internal coinlnistion engine, iior instance an internal combustion turbine.

The proportioi'is shown in the drawings are substantially those which in, practice I find give correct results.

What I claim is z 1 Ignition means for explosive engines including a member provided with variable capacity explosive charge receiving means and with an inlet aperture to said means adapted to be connected with the explosion chamber or an engine, a heatretaining element effected by the amount of compression of an explosive charge contacting therewith to ignite the same, and means between said inlet aperture and said variable capacity e:- plosive charge receiving means to vary the e'llective capacity of the latter.

2. Ignition means for explosive engines including a member provided with variable capacity explosive charge receiving means and with an inlet aperture to said means adapted to be connected with the explosion chamber of an engine, a heat retaining element affected by the amount of compression oi? an explosive charge contacting therewith to ignite the same, and valve means between said inlet aperture and said variable capacity explosiveclmrge receiving means to vary the effective capacity of the latter.

3. Ignition means for explosive engines including a member provided with variable capacity explosive charge receiving means and with an inletapcrture to said means adapted to beconnected with the explosion chamber of an engine, a heat retaining element aliected by the amount of compression of an explosive charge contacting therewith to ignite the same, and rotatable means between said inlet aperture and said variable capacity explosive charge receiving means to vary the eiteotive capacity of the latter.

i. Ignition means for explosive engines having plural explosion chambers, including a member provided with plural variable capacity explosive charge receiving means, one for each chamber, and with separate inlet apertures to each of said means, adapted to be connected with the ex )lOSlOll chambers of the engine, respectively, a heat retaining element associated with each explosive chamber and affected by the amount of compression of an explosive charge contacting therewith to ignite the same, and a single device common to the aforesaid plurality oil variable capacity explosive clnirge receiving means e'llective to vary the capacity thereoI.

5. lgi'iition means for explosive engines including member provided with variable llL) to vary the effective capacity of the latter and spring means holding said valve means seated.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

H. E. FELLOWS. l/Vitnesses A. S. MICKLIN, T. O. HUGHES. 

